Faith Formation Leaders Legal and Compliance Resources

Office of Background Screening

Background screening is a tool the Church uses to secure the safety of our children, youth, elderly and the disabled.  This office works diligently to ensure that all Archdiocesan and Religious Order clergy, educators, volunteers, parish and school staff as well as men in preparation for the priesthood and deaconate are properly screened by evaluating each individual’s CORI (criminal offender record information.)

CORI – Office of Background Screening

• Here is one of the more common questions and answers:
  • Question – Who needs a CORI check?
  • Answer – The Archdiocese of Boston requires that all clergy, including those not serving in a parish, and all parish staff (full and part-time), together with all volunteers (18 years of age and older) who minister to or have the potential for unmonitored access to children, youth, elderly or the disabled, undergo a CORI check. A “CORI check” is an individual’s submission of his/her completed CORI Request Form to the Parish Coordinator in accordance with this Policy. Examples of those ministries which must undergo a CORI check, include, but are not limited to: Ministries to the Dying, Music Ministry, Religious Education, Parish Health Care, Youth Ministry, and Parish-chartered Boy Scout/Girl Scout Troops. If a pastor/administrator has a question with respect to which volunteers have the potential for unmonitored access to children, youth, elderly or the disabled, he should contact the Office for Background Screening..
• Everyone needs a CORI every year. 
• We have a process for people residing out of state: 
  • The DCJIS has access only to Massachusetts criminal offender record information. Therefore, if there is an individual in the parish who is required to have a CORI check, but is currently not residing in Massachusetts, the individual will be required to obtain their CORI Return for their current state of residence. If there is an individual in the parish who is required to have a CORI check, but has lived in Massachusetts for less than one year, the individual will be required to obtain their CORI return from their previous state of residence. It will be the individual’s responsibility to get a copy of their out of state CORI Return(s) and submit the CORI Return(s) to the Coordinator in a sealed envelope marked “Personal and Confidential”. The Coordinator shall then forward the sealed envelope and the individual’s CORI Request Form to the Office for Background Screening. The envelope should clearly identify the parish name and its location
• In short, when in doubt, do a CORI check and do it every year!

Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection

The Office of Child Advocacy, Implementation and Oversight is responsible for the implementation of all policies and procedures that the Cardinal promulgates in the archdiocese for the protection of children and prevention of their abuse.

• Child Protection Policy
• Reporting Child Abuse
• Archdiocese of Boston Employee Code of Conduct
• Archdiocese of Boston Volunteer Code of Conduct
• Volunteer Application Form
• Sample Volunteer Reference Form

Protecting God’s Children (PGC) – Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection

• A description of the PGC program for Adults and some key points:
  • The program is designed particularly for those adults who have custodial care of children as part of their duties. Training in the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is being abused in some way, and how to talk with children about these issues will also be included, as will training in the responsibilities of mandated reporting and the archdiocese’s policies and procedures for preventing child abuse. An on-line component called “VIRTUS On-Line” will provide continued training through monthly bulletins and annual recertification.
  • While the program is required for any adult who has custodial care of youth in any context, it is strongly recommended for parents and indeed the general public to increase their awareness of the warning signs of abuse and how to address situations involving those signs.
  • Please note that minors are never permitted to have custodial care of other minors – and in fact the Archdiocese strongly encourages all chaperones to be at least 21 years of age.  
    • This means that any young people serving as catechists or babysitters at any parish event must also have some adult supervising their care of other minors.
• If you have a leadership role in your parish or collaborative, please consider becoming a PGC program facilitator.
• Find a PGC workshop
• Parish clergy, staff, and volunteers are mandated reporters
  • Information on how and when to file a 51a are at these links:
    • Filing a 51a Report
    • How to Report Child Abuse or Neglect
  • If you are ever wondering whether or not you need to or should file a report of suspected child abuse do not hesitate to contact Vivian Soper.

Safe Environment – Office of Pastoral Support and Child Protection

• Personal safety and abuse prevention training is required for any children aged Kindergarten through grade 12
• The recommended program for grades Pre-K through 5 is the Child Protection Unit from Second Step  which is an update to the older Talking About Touching curriculum.
• The only other permitted safe environment program for grades K through 12 in the Archdiocese of Boston is the Virtus Empowering God’s Children Curriculum. Any parish using another safe environment curriculum will need to transition to either the Second Step or Virtus programs.  Please contact the Pastoral Support and Child Protection team for more information.
• The Virtus Empowering God’s Children Program is now also required for high school aged youth in parish faith formation, sacramental preparation, and youth ministry programs.  Please contact the Pastoral Support and Child Protection or Faith Formation & Missionary Discipleship Teams for more information.

Risk Management

The mission of the Office of Risk Management is to provide Catholic parishes and institutions with the highest quality professional risk management services and insurance and protection programs that are tailored and sensitive to the unique issues, relationships and risks of Catholic non-profit organizations. We strive to provide these products and services at costs that bring substantial savings to each of our participating organizations. Our services include all lines of protection: insurance, loss control and risk management, claims and litigation management, and training and consultation.

• Policies and Procedures for Trips Involving Minors
  • Please note this document includes liability, medical, and permission forms and volunteer driver information
• Social Media Guidelines
• Quarterly Newsletter